By Texas Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett, a progressive Democrat, is coming under fire from both parties after making fun of Republican Governor Greg Abbott’s disability. During a speech at a Human Rights Campaign dinner in Los Angeles over the weekend, Crockett mocked Abbott—who has used a wheelchair since a 1984 accident—by calling him “Governor Hot Wheels.” Her comments, which drew some laughs at the LGBTQ advocacy event, were quickly condemned across the political spectrum.
Crockett remarked, “We in these hot a– Texas streets, honey. Y’all know we got Governor Hot Wheels down there, come on now!” She added, “The only thing hot about him is that he is a hot a– mess.” The backlash came fast. Republican leaders and conservative commentators slammed her comments as insensitive and mean-spirited. The National Republican Congressional Committee accused her of reflecting what they called the “extremism” of the Democratic Party, while also pointing to her rising national profile.
House Dems' top spox Jasmine Crockett applauded after attacking Texas Governor Abbott for using a wheelchair:
"Y'all know we got Governor Hot Wheels down there!"
Recent polling shows Crazy Crockett as one of the leaders of the Democrat Party. This is who they are. pic.twitter.com/eIDlJqSoEU
— NRCC (@NRCC) March 25, 2025
Senator Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma reminded people that Abbott’s paralysis resulted from a serious injury when a tree fell on him. He responded to Crockett’s comment with sarcasm, saying, “But sure, go with ‘Hot Wheels.’” Texas Senator John Cornyn labeled the remarks “disgraceful” and questioned whether media outlets would have responded differently had a Republican made a similar joke. Former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi warned that Crockett’s language could lead to legal or political fallout, saying, “Words have consequences,” reported Fox News.
This isn’t the first time Crockett has made waves with provocative language. In a previous interview, she hinted that Democrats might need to take aggressive rhetorical stances to win in conservative areas like Texas. Referring to Senator Ted Cruz, she said, “This dude has to be knocked over the head, like hard,” which drew additional criticism. She also tried to pick a fight with Georgia Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor-Greene.
The one problem with Crockett, though, is that everyone knows her antics are fake, noted The National Review.
A reminder that this is all an act. She did not grow up in the hood. She went to the most expensive private school in St. Louis.
This is how she spoke before deciding to change her personality for political gain. pic.twitter.com/1hKN3ci9tK https://t.co/BizBThvJt8
— Bonchie (@bonchieredstate) March 25, 2025
“For those unaware, Crockett’s jab at Abbott as ‘Governor Hot Wheels’ is a reference to the fact that he has been limited to use of a wheelchair for over 40 years, after being paralyzed from the waist down after a freak accident (a tree fell on him while he was out jogging). It was truly a classy moment for her, only the most recent in a series of escalating plays for public attention (and the affections of enraged Resistance Democrats). Little more need be said about the tastelessness of her words; I am more interested in the transparent self-promotional strategy underlying it.
For Crockett’s public crudity, like that of so many others current Washington officeholders of both parties, is largely a put-on. Her exaggerated accent and affect is only the most obvious tell: Crockett grew up in a middle-class St. Louis family, attended the most elite all-girls private school in the state, and used to speak like this before she decided she needed to sound more “street” — for authenticity’s sake, that is. More importantly, immediately after reaching federal office, she took to the publicity stunt style of politics, now so prevalent among the House’s most obnoxious figures, in a cruder and more clumsily calculated way than even that of her closest Republican analogue, South Carolina’s perpetually spotlight-hungry Nancy Mace.
It is the artificiality of her attempts to spark outrage that makes them fall so weirdly flat. Her attempt to catfight on the floor of Congress with Representative Marjorie Taylor-Greene (R., Ga.) last May was strangely unsuccessful — she started out with the moral upper hand, no less — precisely because MTG is a moron to the manner born, a natural talent unrestained in her impulses by qualms of intellect or conscience. Crockett is blocked from any real path to advancement in office by both geography (Texas may yet one day turn blue, but not for a former BLM activist) and work ethic (she isn’t exactly leadership material). Publicity — and its hopefully attendant financial rewards — is the best she can hope for.”
Governor Abbott, who has led Texas since 2015, is known for his support of former President Donald Trump and his hardline stance on immigration. His controversial Operation Lone Star program, aimed at increasing border security, has led to legal disputes with the federal government.
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